Kerala   

Fortifying the system of examination

Controversies with regard to public examinations, especially over leak of question paper, are becoming a regular feature, including in Kerala. These may be seriously eroding the very credibility of the system of examinations and leaving both students and parents demoralised. Our readers suggest ways to make the system foolproof, and less stressful to all.

Need for reforms

The system of examination pursued has to be altered on the basis of the expertise acquired depending on the situation and that the system of semester evolved is one such change.

The leakage of the questions papers can be prevented by ordering the printing in Government Press and by imposing strict punishment for those involved in malpractice. Similarly, the transportation of the papers should be under proper security

During exam different sets of questions papers can be tried so that copying can also be curtailed.

The sincerity of all involved is also imperative. Like semester in higher classes, the quarterly, half yearly and annual exams can be by common papers set for each districts by sharing the expertise of all teachers. In this case the calendar for each period will be uniformly followed instead of all the lessons covered at fag end and thus all could have systematic learning.

Transparency by showing or supplying photocopy of answer to compare and ensure unbiased mark awarding is also a good step.

V. Sankaran

Kozhikode

Do it responsibly

The version of the Education Minister on the matter of the alleged laxity in the transportation of SSLC question papers may not stand as an answer to the questions of the masses.

According to the Minister, it was the responsibility of the printer to deliver the papers to the district educational officers. The printer had engaged the parcel service to effect the delivery. But from the Minister, there is no answer for the question what would be the liability of the parcel service agency if loss or leakage of question papers occurred while handling the bundles.

The authorities may undertake some of the responsibilities with an objective of preventing such an evil.

The examination papers should be printed under direct supervision enforcing every measure to maintain the confidential nature.

Loading of bundles in vehicles may be done under high security conditions. Transportation should be done engaging closed wagons. The wagons should be sealed immediately after loading. The seal should be removed only by the receiving officer in the presence of witnesses.

Chandran K. Puzhakkara

Malappuram

Change the system

Morality and ethics are neglected in our society, especially in the field of education.

We have to examine the leakage of question papers also in this point of view. Corruption prevails in every field. Our system of education and examination should be totally revamped.

C. Adbussamad

Malappuram

Make no compromise

The sanctity and significance of public examinations should not be compromised on any count. Question paper leak which wrecks the credibility and value of examinations occurs only on account of the loopholes, coupled with the laxity of the authorities, in the system. The alacrity with which such crimes are pursued matters much in stalling the recurrence of similar incidents.

Question paper setting and printing are extremely confidential matters and deserve to be handled only by persons of proven integrity. Printing of highly confidential question papers in private presses without adequate security arrangements is to be avoided.

The reputation of the printing press need to be considered for such assignments. It is also imperative that a substantial amount is collected as EMD also. Despatch of printed question papers also merits utmost attention. As courier services cannot be expected to give due consideration for the bundles, it is always better that special conveyance is arranged with adequate police escort for such purposes.

It is a sad fact that both university examinations and public examinations have become a routine exercise, sans the seriousness they merit.

Teachers/invigilators are careless and callous in the examination hall and seem to be craving for recognition of the `student-friendly' image! Reporting of malpractices has nose-dived and consequently copying is rampant. When examinations are held haphazardly, merit is eclipsed by mediocrity. It cannot but amuse us that persons who have consistently shunned invigilation duty or examination-related works are appointed Controllers of examinations or Syndicate members.

These persons with their estrangement with systematic work and diligence easily condone cases of malpractice.

They are blissfully ignorant of the lofty values which save the whole system from being a farce. Whenever examinations are not held properly, there should be public outcry against it, as apathy in such serious matters only aggravates the malady.

N.K. Vijayan

Kizhakkambalam

Separate wing

Until recently the entire process of public examinations was bestowed upon a separate wing in the Education Department under a Commissioner who was given statutory powers for stupendous conduct of the same in all stages, including evaluation and publication of result. But now it is found that the free hand given to this institution has been either loosened or controlled by some extraneous interference through political or otherwise influence.

This is the clear indication of the leakage of SSLC question papers last year and the bizarre handling this year too.

Had the Government taken timely action against those who involved in denigrating its authority and maintained full security and secrecy the present hue and cry over the distribution of question paper bundles could have been averted.

In order to regain the lost popularity and to ensure foolproof assessment, first the Government should eliminate all kinds of extra departmental involvement in the system. The departmental authorities, in cooperation with the SCERT should prepare question papers, get them printed and send them in sealed packets or bundles sufficiently early to different DEOs in their vehicles with police protection.

The DEOs, in the same manner, would send them to the examination centres under their jurisdiction as practised earlier. The Superintendents of the examination centres will keep the question papers in safe lockers sealed and provide police security during the period of examination.

Even minor mistakes committed by the officials in violation of the stipulations should be severely dealt with.

V. Viswanathan Nambiar

Kaiparampa

Better arrangement

The argument that the printers are assigned sole responsibility for secured passage and delivery is hardly sensible because, if anything went wrong, the

interests of the students, the main party in the arrangement, would be jeopardised the most for no fault of theirs.

At the printers, the entire lot of question papers may be accommodated in 3 trucks hauling 20 export-standard containers, which can be made tamper-proof, and directed separately to three hubs in the State for piecemeal distribution under departmental supervision. The cost of secured bulk haulage of even 2,000 km will be about Rs.6 lakhs.

An exhaustive database of questions and software suitable to plan, pick and/or set them, besides enabling secure and fully automated printing, sorting and packing, will make things more foolproof from the printer to the examination desk.

Devraj Sambasivan

Alappuzha

Going online

The best option to maintain the credibility of the examination is to rely on computer networks. Now, every other school owns computers. Professionals in the field of information technology can plan out methods for distributing question papers directly to examination centres, just a few minutes before the exam, thus avoiding disputes over private parcel services, open vans, insecurity, etc. Such a system reduces the cost of conducting examination and also increases its credibility.

Dr. Dhanya

Thripunithura

Strict measures

The only remedy for stopping the leak of the question paper is printing them in the Government press and distributing them through Government: personnel. Last year CBI arrested some persons in connection with the case. Some students unions went on strike against the leak of question papers. But the issue still continues. This is a serious matter which calls for the immediate rectification. The Government must take strict measures so that such leak of question papers should not recur.

Vinod M

Pallipad

Special body

The Government should constitute a special governing body for making, printing and issuing question papers safely to the destinations for the public examinations. It should be provided with security force and facilities to distribute the papers. Private agencies should be shunned.

Deepthi Vimal

Muttom

Postal service

Why did the Government depend on private couriers? Speed post and postal service are better than private agencies. Crores of rupees is given to private agencies for their service. The Central and State Government should instruct all Government and semi-government firms to use the services of Postal Department only and no mail articles should be given to private agencies. Then the leakage of question papers through private courier can be avoided.

To be foolproof, the system itself is to be changed. Political interference should not affect the education of the State.

P. Sankaranarayanan

Mutra

Need for innovations

Today education is a business. The number of educational institutions and educational trusts are increasing day by day. All of them want to become the best. They want to increase their popularity and success by hook or crook. The scene of competition of managements is one of the reasons for

this leakage of question papers. The involvement of politics destroys the purity of our educational system. We need innovations in the examination system. We need an authority to act as a watchdog monitoring the printing and distribution of question papers.

Liji Balakrishnan

Chingoli

The neglect

The neglect and carelessness on the part of the Education Department is leading to leakage of question papers. The procedure of entrusting question paper printing with private parties work well if the authorities take delivery of printed matter from the press directly. The leakage happens always during transit from the press to the department concerned.

While selecting the contractor, his integrity and vigil to maintain confidentiality are to be looked into. A responsible officer of the department may be given the charge to oversee the printing delivery and distribution of the question papers. The present system will work foolproof if all these are done scrupulously. If not, let the Government evolve its own infrastructure by entrusting the matter exclusively with the superintendent of Government presses assisted by a band of offices of the Education Department with proven integrity, sincerity and dedication. The practice of depending courier service should be stopped.

V.P. Ramesan

Thripunithura

Change in system

Exams used to be a test that tried to find out what a candidate knew.

The story has changed and now it tries to find out what a candidate does not know. It is this shift of the very purpose of the exam that precipitates question leakage and the resultant erosion of exam credibility.

Commercialising printing, authorising private agencies to conduct exams and engaging non-academics in exam duties are the major problems.

Exam should be an exercise to let the candidate reveal his or her personality.

The ability to memorise and reproduce should be passé. A mere exam should not be the criterion for getting a job or a qualification.

There should be other parameters as to assess the quality of a candidate.

These parameters have to be far beyond printed questions, written answers and individual evaluations, for most of the competitive exams are rejection processes.

Jayaprakash A.P.

Athirampuzha

Strengthen security

The authorities should find some solutions to avoid postponement of the exams. The leakage is to be stopped by giving sufficient police security for the question papers.

The assessment system would be foolproof only when sufficient care is taken to see that there is no malpractice done in the papers.

Nobody should be permitted to interfere in the matters of question and answer papers.

High security and secrecy should be given for preparation of question papers, despatch and distribution to the students and also the same system should be followed in the case of collection, despatch and evaluation of answer papers.

Till the result is published, nobody should be allowed to go through the answer papers.

S.N. Thiruvazhiode

Poonithura

Abolish the system

There were lots of suggestions to reform the exam and the assessment systems. But it is only going from bad to worse. And the burden of the child and tension of the parent start from KG class.

In fact, it should be ensured that teaching and learning makes full pass with only a good class assessment system. In today's context, a public exam at 10th standard or SSLC is irrelevant. We have to grow with the world. Why not consider abolishing it for the benefit of children, parents and the State?

Less exams, more happiness and better class of studies. All high schools could be made higher secondary schools and children could continue after 10 in the same school.

The exam at 12 should be so designed that it could pave the way for employment, higher studies, professional courses, etc., without further exams.

If Governments follow set guidelines strictly, question paper leaks or scams could be avoided.

Most important is education and exams should be freed from politics and politicians.

Jacob Sahayam

Thiruvananthapuram

Kozhikode

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